General Membership Meeting-AFSCME 404
July 20, 2023
4:30pm
Present:
Erin Wiederich, Ryan Cates, Matt Stenger, Mike Hohenstein, Steaed Doehring, Antonino Guerrero, Kyle Heinze, Ben Zarn, Judy Ehrman, Sherry Christensen, Chris, Tim Sevick, Vicki Demers, Cami Baune
My apologies for anyone that I missed via zoom or in the room.
1.Secretary Report:
Motion to approve meeting minutes by Erin Wiederich. 2nd by Kyle Heinze. Motion passes.
2. Treasurer-Antonino Guerrero:
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR MONTH ENDING: June 2023
CASH BALANCE BEGINNING OF MONTH: $97540.28
INCOME FOR THE MONTH: $7665.32
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH: $8668.99
CASH BALANCE ENDING OF MONTH: $96536.61
SAVINGS: $255579.15
SUBMITTED BY: Antonino Guerrero
Motion to accept subject to audit by Eric Hesse. 2nd by Matt Stenger. Motion passes.
3. Correspondence:
4. Old Business: 1. Scheduling changes go into effect on August 16, 2023, for forensics. 6:30-2:30pm, 1:30-9:30pm, 9p-7a.
2. OT for FSS/HSS-Overtime will be across programs but for subsequent shift only so they don’t have to short one program when filling spots in another program. Overtime is going down so may not need to include other unions soon. Overtime is going to be given within the grove first then AFSCME.
5. New Business:
1. Contract Voting will be taking place on Thursday, August 10, 2023, 6a-11a HR conference room on campus. 11a-6pm Community Center. Online voting through member link. Set up your membership on member link before the day of the vote. Absentee ballots need to be applied for soon. Email will be sent out. There will be voting in many places across the state. Get out and vote!
2. Delegates Assembly was Monday; they recommend a yes vote on contract.
3. September 28, 29,30 for convention in Duluth, MN. If you’d like to go, email Eric Manriquez. Resolutions to policy in Council 5, trainings, NMO, classes on meetings with management are all examples of things that take place at convention. Delegates will need to be voted on August 17. Around 30 usually can go but you need to have the time off.
4. Contract survey- Majority plan to vote no and they plan to strike. 95.9% intend to vote and out of those that intend to vote 68.4% plan to vote no on the contract. 79.9% who are planning to vote no are also willing to strike. The total surveyed was 299 people at the time of the meeting. Approximately 500 people haven’t voted yet.
6. Items from the membership:
1. Motion to purchase Survey monkey for 1 year- $300 vs. $100 per month. Motion passes to make the purchase.
2. Grove A; management are looking into getting the doors locked on NOC shift. Working on doing it for adverse weather as well.
3. Union hasn’t heard anything on the refusal of inverses. Falls on supervisors to getting it resolved.
4. Lead LPN- this topic is above the local management level but are willing to talk about it in meetings. Roxanne Portner is in favor of getting the opportunity started so is willing to talk about it.
5. An MOU for other job classes getting the bonus for the weekend can’t be done until the contract is ratified.
6. 12-hour shift leads for each grove in forensics is coming but don’t know the days off will be.
7. Good and Welfare:
8. Officer Reports:
President: Ryan Cates- This past month I have…
Attended and led Forensic Meet and Confer- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes
Attended MSOP Meet and Confer- Notes are attached to the meeting minutes
Attended meet and confer for CBHH/CARE
Chaired the Executive Board meeting
Chaired the General Membership meeting
Filed multiple grievances and sat investigations
Talked with members in multiple work areas, answered their questions and listened to their concerns
Presented and argued grievances
Communicated information to E-Board members about issues facing the Local
Had discussions with leaders from other Locals about the contract tentative agreement and what it means. Locals whose leadership opposes the contract are meeting to determine what we can do
Our contract has been negotiated. The state has given their last, best, and final offer. The only way we are going to force the state to offer us better contracts is to say no and potentially strike. We are a democracy, and the majority rules so vote and make your voice heard.
If any member of Local 404 feels they are not being represented by our Union, please let me know. We cannot fix problems if we do not know there is a problem.
We ask that all members who are interviewed as non-subjects in an investigation, request Union representation. If management refuses, then members should refuse to answer questions. Participation in investigations is completely voluntary and they cannot coerce you to answer their questions. We need to do this to compel management to discontinue their practice of refusing to allow Union representatives into investigations.
Ryan Cates
VP: Matt Stenger-
VP: Eric Hesse-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Rick Pitts-
Executive Board: Chief Steward - Eric Manriquez-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Nick Weerts-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Marvin Sullivan-
Executive Board: Chief Steward Cory Moon
Executive Board: Chief Steward James Kibler
Executive Board: Chief Steward Steve Wilking
Executive Board: Jamie Schwartz
Executive Board: Mike Hohenstein-
Executive Board: Steaed Doehring-
Annie Jakacki-
Motion to adjourn by Matt. 2nd by Kyle. Motion Passes
Meeting Adjourned at 4:59pm